Pumpkins are among the most iconic crops of the gardening season. From small sugar pumpkins perfect for pies to giant varieties grown for decoration, these fruits bring beauty, flavor, and tradition to the garden. Yet, pumpkins present a common challenge: their vigorous vines and heavy fruits sprawl across large areas of soil, often overrunning beds … Read more
When you want to introduce a touch of the exotic to your landscape, make a statement with the showy, ornamental Heliconia rostrata. Each tall stem features lush, dark green, paddle-shaped foliage topped with a drooping inflorescence with bright red flowering bracts. The small, hanging yellow flower clusters stay around for weeks when in bloom. The dramatic … Read more
Black chokeberry (Aronia melanocarpa) is a deciduous shrub that is native to the eastern part of North America. It grows in an upright and fairly rounded shape. Its glossy, dark green leaves are around 1 to 3 inches long and either lanceolate or elliptical in shape. The foliage turns red to reddish-purple in the fall, providing striking … Read more
Natal plum (Carissa macrocarpa) is a flowering shrub grown mostly as a landscape specimen but also for its small fruits, which taste like cranberries. It has a moderate-to-fast growth rate and is best planted in fall or winter. Natal plum does best in sandy, well-draining soil. This shrub can be propagated through cuttings, but it will … Read more
Watermelon is an annual fruiting vine that requires a relatively long, hot growing season to produce the iconic summertime treat familiar to picnickers everywhere. Watermelon is one member of the very large Cucurbitaceae family of plants, a group that includes most of the vining vegetables, including cucumbers, squash, and pumpkins. The watermelons grown in domestic gardens are … Read more
Pomegranate trees (Punica granatum) produce delicious fruit, and if you have the right warm climate, they are easy to maintain. The trees usually take between three to six years to mature enough to bear their signature red, leathery fruit filled with sweet, edible seeds. The pomegranate can range from a dwarf shrub of 3 feet to a tree of … Read more
From starting seeds to maintaining the nutrient- and water-hungry plants, vegetable gardens can often end up feeling like more work than they’re worth for the average gardener. That’s where perennial vegetables come in. These easy-to-grow, low-maintenance species are planted once and enjoyed for years to come. And due to their natural hardiness, they are also easier to … Read more
Kalanchoe pinnata, also called cathedral bells, is a succulent plant in the stonecrop family. It’s known for its vigorous growth, bell-shaped flowers, and ability to grow baby plantlets along the scalloped edges of mature leaves. Kalanchoe pinnata grows best with warm temperatures, well-drained soil, minimal watering, and at least six hours of bright sunlight per day. Note … Read more
A crevice garden feels like a piece of wild mountain terrain captured in your backyard. It’s where art, ecology, and patience come together, a landscape built from stone and life. Instead of layering soil and mulch, this style uses upright rocks arranged closely together to form narrow gaps, known as crevices. These spaces become the … Read more
Sugar cane is a tall, fast-growing perennial grass known for its long, thick stems filled with sweet sap. While it’s primarily cultivated for producing sugar and molasses, sugar cane is also an appealing choice for home gardens as an ornamental plant. It can serve as a privacy screen, border, accent, or focal point due to its lush … Read more